Antetokounmpo and a key statistic
Giannis is in the best stage of his career, which has reached 10 years in the league.
Last season, the Boston Celtics prevented the Milwaukee Bucks from winning the championship twice, but Giannis Antetokounmpo and company are going for revenge.
What does Giannis need to return to the top of the NBA?
1- What is Giannis’ challenge/goal?
Three seasons ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo was seen as a great player, one of those who justified paying a maximum salary and one of those who claimed the reins of a team with pretensions. However, questions remained as to whether he was the right fit to bring Milwaukee a title. Today, there are no more doubts. He is not only a dominant player, but also one who proved he can be the Most Valuable Player twice and who was able to add a title to his resume, including the Finals MVP award.
Last season, the Bucks fell short of reaching another Finals and trying to repeat the title, but injuries were the reason that kept them away from the possibility of repeating. In the playoffs we saw a Giannis trying and succeeding to multiply himself on the court to disguise absences and weaknesses of his team. That is exactly what is expected from Antetokounmpo this season.
His biggest challenge and goal will be none other than to reclaim the keys to the kingdom he knew how to conquer in the 2020/21 season. Let no one dare bet against him.
2- A key stat or number for Giannis this campaign.
- That’s what Giannis is missing to reach the figure of 15,000 goals in his NBA career. At 27 years old, he has played 656 games. He’s right in the middle of his career and still improving.
If we use as a reference the Greek’s 29 points per game last year, Giannis would reach 15,000 in 24 games. That would make him the ninth fewest games needed since the 2000-01 season. LeBron James, with 25 springs, did it in 580 duels.
Antetokounmpo, moreover, has never recorded 30 points per contest in a campaign. Since 2019-20 he has averaged: 29.5, 28.1 and 29.9. Will 2022-23 be the exception? I’d wager yes.
Giannis, likewise, could (if he continues his customary averages) break into the top 125 all-time in rebounding. Currently, with 6,149, he ranks 170th. If he captures, at least, the 778 totals of the last tournament, he’s already there at No. 122.
3- Is Giannis Antetokounmpo the best player in the NBA?
He is not only the best player, he is also the most dominant player in the league. Over the years the Greek has strived to improve not only in the physical athletic aspect, he has also polished his technique. Let’s remember that a couple of seasons ago his shooting from the arc was not the best, his shooting mechanics did not allow him to be as accurate as he started to be a couple of years ago; probably for the campaign that is about to begin ‘The Greek Freak’ will surprise us with an improvement from the free throw line.
On the other hand, his physical build makes him a practically unstoppable player when he attacks the rim, but his repertoire is not limited to that. He knows how to distribute the ball, sets good screens and runs the court in a few seconds thanks to his great stride, finishing with a ‘Eurostep’ that has no brakes.
Now, it is a fact that Giannis can not carry the full weight of the Bucks to get one more ring, in that sense the management must tuck it a little more with a deeper bench, because although Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton are his squires, this ‘Big Three’ needs a backup to compete in an increasingly fierce Eastern Conference.
